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Sand between your toes with warm, frothy waves nipping at your ankles. The lazy curve of Myrtle Beach transforming from ivory white to blushing pinks, reflecting the sky as the sun dips below the horizon. Sounds like the perfect romantic beach vacation.
But why stop there? The city's shoreline is dotted with restaurants offering dining with a view and nightclubs filled with the hedonistic rhythms of salsa or reggae. It's not surprising that visiting couples looking for a bit of romance decide to stick around for a while. Just a quick visit to any of the local apartment brokers could entice a happy pair to move into one of the posh beachside apartments in Myrtle Beach.
The Beach, and Then Some
It is quite enjoyable to spend time on the vast stretch of sand fronting the Atlantic Ocean at Myrtle Beach. Still, there is life beyond the beach towel and the coconut scented sunscreen. The Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and Promenade leads past hotels, oceanfront Myrtle Beach apartments, the Pavilion Amusement Park and the smile-producing Ripley's Believe it or Not Museum. Walk three blocks inland and play a round of mini-golf in the primeval forest of Mount Atlanticus Minotaur Golf. Two more blocks brings you to the Coastal Grand Mall. Indulge in a movie at the Cinemark Theater and then follow the scent of chocolate to Mrs. Fields for a sweet cookie treat. The mall is also home to a number of service businesses, including apartment brokers and the local Post Office. Some of the most sought after apartments in Myrtle Beach are within walking distance of both the Coastal Grand Mall and the beach.
Getting Good and Wet
Stay right on the beach and visit the Myrtle Waves Water Park. The water slides and giant wave pool will get your adrenaline pumping and may even be a bit rowdy. For a bit of down time, you and your special someone can take a slow moving raft ride down the LayZee River and then rent a private cabana to escape the crowds. Then it's time to get back out on the ocean on a jet-ski or a bouncy banana boat. Companies such as Ocean Watersports offer rentals and rides. The banana boat rides, running $15 per person as of 2011, are a bit more wallet friendly than the $100 per hour jet skis. Either way, it is a bit of a rush to dash through the waves, the two of you holding on for dear life. You can also choose to see the coastline from an entirely different perspective. Take a parasail ride, averaging $50 per person, and watch all those Myrtle Beach apartments and hotels pass beneath your feet.
Myrtle Beach after Dark
When the sun goes down, the stars come out. Those stars aren't limited to flecks of light in the night sky. Broadway at the Beach offers eateries such as the Hard Rock Cafe, known for its celebrity-driven decor and pulse pounding sounds. Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville offers dining in a romantic, tropical setting. For some serious partying, there is Señor Frog's, offering Mexican fare and the famous Chocolate Martini. After dark Señor Frog's is an adult only venue. Join the conga line, indulge in Jell-O shots and dance to a reggae band or to hot tunes spun by a live DJ. You may be tempted to do an impromptu apartment search after finding out how much fun this place is. If a quiet meal for two is more your style, try the oceanfront Pier 14, located on a pier that has been part of the Myrtle Beach landscape since 1926. Dine inside or out on fresh seafood, prime rib or pasta with a seafood twist. Add a bottle of California or Australian wine and a panoramic ocean view, and you have romance personified.
Tee for Two
If golf is your pleasure, you'll find a number of courses within a few miles drive of Myrtle Beach. The closest one is Whispering Pines, which is only a few blocks from the south end of the beach. Rates for this 18-hole course, as of 2011, range between $35 and $55 per round depending on the season. River Oaks Golf Plantation is a bit farther inland and offers three separate 18-hole courses. This is a more upscale resort, offering both memberships and single-round play. Rates here run from $60 to $75 per round. Golf Digest named two of River Oaks' courses, the Bear and the Fox, as the best places to play during the 2008-2009 season. The near-perfect year round golf weather is just another reason to start that apartment search to find your ideal Myrtle Beach vacation home.
Even on days when you don't feel like taking to the greens or dancing the night away at a local hotspot, you can always indulge in an intimate hand-in-hand walk along the sands. The real magic of Myrtle Beach lies in its natural wonders, particularly its sunsets. They are romantically spectacular… and free.
This guest post article was written and provided by Martha Keagan who is a freelance writer, full time mother and part time real estate and Myrtle Beach apartments broker.
